Folding chair



y 1931. c. A. BUFFINGTON 1,807,506

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Nov. 9. 1929 "1, J /l g .9

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 26, 1931 CALVIN A. BUFFINGTON, OF BERKSHIRE NEW YORK FOLDING CHAIR Application filed November 9, 1929. Serial N 0. 406,046.

This invention relates to folding chairs and has as one of its objects to provide a chair of the folding type, the component parts of which may be folded to perfectly flat form thereby enabling the chair to be stored in a minimum space when not in use and likewise permitting of a great number of the chairs being packed for shipment in a minimum space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding chair in which the component parts may be instantly adjusted to un folded position for use or to folded position without the loosening of any fastening means or the like, and which chair in its set-up condition will be more substantial than the ordinary folded chair.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings where in like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the chair embodying the invention in folded condition.

Figure 2 is a vertical front to rear sectional View taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating the chair partly unfolded.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the chair, set up.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The chair comprises a combined back rest and front leg unit, which is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and this unit comprises a pair of side members 2, the upper portions of which constitute the back rest of the chair being connected at their upper ends by a slightly inclined head rest 3, which, however, does not project at any point beyond the planes occupied by the front and rear edges of the side members 2. The lower portions of the side members 2 constitute the front legs of the chair and are connected, at their lower ends by a rung 4. The rear legs of the chair are indicated by the numeral 5 and these legs are pivotally connected at their upper ends by bolts 6 with the inner sides of the upper portions of the side members 2 of the unit 1. The legs 5 are connected near their lower ends by a rung 7. For a purpose to be presently explained, each rear leg 5 is formed in its inner side and parallel to its rearedge with a longitudinally extending relatively narrow groove indicated by the numeral 8 and these grooves extend from a point adjacent the pivoted upper ends 6 of the legs substantially down to the rung 7 The seat is indicated by the numeral 9 and preferably has straight side edges parallel to each other and the seat is mounted for pivotal or swinging movement between the side members 2 in a manner which will now be described. A bracket indicated in general by the numeral 10 is provided upon each of the members 2 and comprises a side portion 11, which is secured by nails or screws 12 to the outer face or side of the respective side member 2 below the pivot 6.

Extending from' the side portion 11, at right angles thereto, is a portion-l3 which extends transversely of the forward edge of the side member 2 and terminals in a right angularly, rearwardly extending car 14, which is spaced from the inner side of the respective member 2 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the respective leg member 5. The outer side of the car 14 is disposed against, the adjacent side edge of the seat 9 and is pivotally connected thereto by a pivot pin indicated by the numeral 15.

In'order that'the rear corners of the seat 9 may be slidably and pivotally connected with the rear legs 5, a stud 16 is embedded in each side edge ofthe seat at the respective rear corner thereof,and a washer 17 is arranged upon that end of each stud which projects beyond the said edge of the seat, and the outer end of each stud is reduced in diameter to provide a portion 18. A bracket member, indicated in general by the numeral 19 comprises a portion 20 which is formed with an opening 21 receiving the reduced end 18 of the stud 16 and the said stud is headed as indicated by the numeral 22, at its said end, so that the bracketis in this manner rotatably connected with the end of the stud, the bracket further comprising a portion 23 which extends at right angles to its pivotally connected portion 20 and fits slidably in the groove 8 in the respective rear leg 5.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be understood that, assuming that the parts are in the folded condition shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings and it is desired to adjust the parts to set up position, so that the chair may be used, a forward pull upon the upper end of the seat 9 will result in a swinging movement of this seat toward its approximate horizontal supporting position shown in Figure 4 and, in this movement of the seat, the portions 23 of the members 19 will ride in the respective grooves 8 in the rear legs 5 and effect outward and rearward swinging movement of these legs as shown in Figure 3 and until they assume the completely setup position shown in Figure 4 whereupon the upper end of the part 23 of the member 19 will seat against the upper end wall of the respective groove 8 and further movement will be prevented. In order to again fold the chair it is only necessary to elevate or upwardly swing the forward end of the seat 9, and in this movement of the seat to its folded position between the side members 2, and the rear legs 5, at the opposite sides of the chair, the seat- 23 of the member 29 will slide downwardly in the slot 8 of the respective leg 5 until the lower end of the member 28 rests not only against the lower end wall of the said slot, but also against the rung 7 and the parts will then assume the folded position shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

What I claim is In a folding chair, a combined back and front leg unit comprising side members, rear legs pivotally connected at their upper ends to the side members of the said back and front leg unit at the inner sides of the side members, a bracket comprising a side portion secured to the outer side of each side member of said unit, below the pivots for the rear legs, a portion extending from the said side portion and across the forward sides of the respective side members and rear legs, and having a portion extending at right angles to the last mentioned portion of the bracket and .pivotally connected with the seat at opposite sides thereof, the last mentioned portion of the bracket spacing the sides of the seat from the rear legs, each of the rear legs being provided in its inner side with a longitudinal groove, and a sheet metal plate pivotally mounted upon each side of the seat, at the rear thereof and having a right angularly extending portion atone margin thereof, slidably fitting in the groove in the respective rear leg.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CALVIN A. BUFFINGTON. 

